Game Notes: OU 82, CSU Bakersfield 68

(2) Oklahoma 82, (15) CSU Bakersfield 68
March 18, 2016 – NCAA Tournament First Round
Oklahoma City (Chesapeake Energy Arena)

Second-seeded Oklahoma (26-7) recorded an 82-68 victory over CSU Bakersfield (24-9) in the 2016 NCAA Tournament First Round, played in Oklahoma City inside Chesapeake Energy Arena (attendance 15,662).
The Sooners improved to 38-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament in 30 total appearances. Lon Kruger, making his 17th NCAA Tournament appearance as a head coach, improved to 17-16 all-time in the tourney and 10-7 in opening rounds.
Oklahoma advances to play 10th-seeded VCU (24-10) on Sunday, who defeated seventh-seeded Oregon State earlier on Friday, 75-67 (game time TBA).
OU had three players score in double figures: Buddy Hield (27), Isaiah Cousins (16) and Jordan Woodard (15).
Oklahoma shot exactly 50 percent (28-56) from the field, including a scorching 55 percent (11-20) from downtown. The 11 treys marked the Sooners' 22nd game this season with 10-or-more made triples (a school record).
The game featured five ties and five lead changes. CSUB led by as many as eight in the first half. OU's largest lead was 15 late in the second.
OU's defense forced 14 Roadrunner turnovers, which led to 20 points on the other end for the Sooners.
On Friday afternoon, OU's starters of Cousins, Hield, Spangler and Woodard made their 101st consecutive start together.

Senior guard Buddy Hield posted a game-high 27 points on 8 of 14 shooting overall, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. He also knocked down 8 of 9 from the foul line. Hield also added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in the game.
It marked Hield's 17th game this season scoring at least 25 points (most in college basketball) and his 24th outing with at least 20.
With three 3-pointers vs. CSUB, Hield extended his Big 12 single-season record of 130 treys.

Senior guard Isaiah Cousins registered 16 points in the game, his 26th double-figure scoring outing of the season (and 16th in the last 19 games). Cousins, who was a perfect 3 of 3 from beyond the 3-point arc, also added a team-high five assists.

Junior guard Jordan Woodard tallied 15 points in the contest, his 23rd double-figure scoring game of the season. He went 5 of 8 overall, including 3 of 5 from downtown.

Redshirt freshman forward Dante Buford was big off the bench, scoring nine points and racking up four assists for the Sooners in 18 total minutes. It marked the most points scored in a contest from Buford since Jan. 18 at Iowa State (14).

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